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The palliative medicine consultant at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice, Graham Grove, who has relocated to the Isle of Wight from Australia.

AFTER relocating more than 16,000km across the globe and negotiating a near year-long process to gain his registration, a new consultant is in post at the Earl Mountbatten Hospice (EMH).

Palliative medicine consultant Graham Grove, 36, is relishing his new job and life on the Isle of Wight.

Australian Graham said: "It is clear the EMH is a very special place.

"The clinical staff are incredibly dedicated to patient care and that is matched by so many other people, including the management team, staff and volunteers, who are so active and passionate about supporting the hospice in other ways."

It was the requirements of the General Medical Council to ensure only the most qualified and proficient practitioners work in the UK that lay behind Perth-born Graham’s protracted path to hospice.

He and his wife, Nicole, were keen to move away from their native Australia and had been looking to broaden their horizons by moving to a European island.

The couple began an internet search for possible jobs and the first one that came up was at the hospice.

"Naturally, the British authorities want to ensure the qualifications I have in Australia are compatible with the requirements of this country. This was a very thorough process — and rightly so — but after about a year everything was in place and I was able to take up a consultant role at the hospice."

Graham’s young family, Matthew, seven, Simon, four and Annie, one, are all adjusting well to Island life.

"People on the Island are known for being laid back but they are not as laid back as in Australia. People here insist on calling me 'doctor’ when 'Graham’ is fine by me," he said.

Graham, who is already an active member of Castlehold Baptist Church, in Newport, works alongside colleague Dr Paul Howard providing expert care for patients near to the end of their life.